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A US federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s attempt to overturn her conviction for sex trafficking offences linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, 64, had asked the court to throw out her conviction, arguing that several constitutional rights were violated during her trial and sentencing. She was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping Epstein recruit and groom underage girls for sexual abuse.
In a ruling on Tuesday, US District Judge Paul Engelmayer dismissed Maxwell’s claims, finding that they did not provide grounds to overturn her conviction or sentence.
Engelmayer said Maxwell’s arguments that her constitutional rights had been violated “are all meritless and all or almost all are frivolous.”
The ruling marks another setback for Maxwell, who has continued to challenge her conviction since sentencing. Her legal efforts have included appeals and other attempts to secure relief from the 20-year prison term.
Maxwell remains the only person convicted in connection with Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. Epstein, who faced federal sex-trafficking charges, died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by authorities.
Epstein’s case has continued to attract widespread attention, particularly because of his connections to prominent figures in politics, business and entertainment. Maxwell’s conviction established in court that she played a significant role in facilitating Epstein’s abuse of underage girls.
The latest ruling does not affect Maxwell’s existing conviction or her 20-year sentence. Unless a higher court overturns the decision or grants further relief, she will remain in federal custody while serving the sentence.
The judge’s decision also reinforces the court’s previous findings that Maxwell received a fair trial and that the constitutional arguments raised in her challenge did not establish grounds for vacating her conviction.
